A wall of blue jerseys prevailed in Anfield Sunday, as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-0 to add to the chaotic script that is the 2014 Premier League season.
Behind seven changes and the same stubborn tactics from Jose Mourinho, Chelsea cooled down a Liverpool side that had not lost in their last 11 league matches. Chelsea clearly did not come into the game with victory in mind. In fact, Chelsea would find any chance they could to waste time early in the match. Then Reds captain Steven Gerrard mishandled the ball and slipped, and Demba Ba waltzed in to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. That only pushed the Chelsea defense further into their own zone. Liverpool’s frustrations grew as they continually failed to break through Chelsea’s tight back line.
Manager Brendan Rodgers expressed his frustration after the game and avoided giving Mourinho much praise.
“It's the nature of how Chelsea play(s). They've got some wonderful players, but they play a defensive game and hope to hit you on the counter-attack or with a mistake” Rodgers said in the post-game interview. “I don't think it's a tactic. Anyone can ask a team to just sit back and defend on the edge of the box.”
The mistake by Gerrard is heartbreaking no matter what your allegiances are. The 19 year Liverpool man may have cost himself and the club their first championship in 24 years.
“We were disappointed with the goal," said Rodgers. "It's just one of those things. There's no blame for Stevie [Gerrard]. I said to him he's been a wonderful player for this club and he's a massive part of why we are where we are.”
Even Mourinho felt for Gerrard. “Nobody enjoys it when someone makes a big mistake,'' Mourinho said. “We enjoy it because it gave us a goal, but no one likes someone to make a mistake in that situation. I prefer to say Demba Ba was fantastic in front of the goalkeeper.''
Mourinho has pretty much conceded the title to Liverpool and Manchester City, and said the Champions League is his club's biggest priority.
Manchester City won 2-0 today vs Crystal Palace and are now down three points with a game in hand over Liverpool. If Liverpool and Manchester City both win out, Manchester City would be crowned champions due to goal differential. Here are their remaining schedules:
Liverpool:
@ Crystal Palace
New Castle United
Manchester City:
@Everton
Aston Villa
West Ham United
With championship Sunday looming, more drama is surely expected.
“The bigger picture is that we're still two points ahead of a team that has spent an absolute fortune,” Rodgers said. “If we win our two games, we'll finish above them and then we'll see what happens with Manchester City.”
